Wood spear gun having a magnet under the spear track

ABSTRACT

A powerful permanent magnet is located in a recess formed just beneath the track in the interior of the wooden stock of a spear gun. The magnetic field of the buried magnet creates a force of attraction which interacts with the metal shank of the spear residing in the track. This force pulls the spear into the bottom or trough of the track where it is symmetrically positioned for accurate catapulting toward a remote target.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to spear guns of the type having a wooden stock with a spear-retaining track receiving a metal spear. The invention hereof relates more specifically to such a spear gun wherein a powerful permanent magnet is buried in the stock beneath the track to exert a magnetic attraction on the shaft of the spear.

BACKGROUND ART

Underwater spear guns of the type used to spear a fish use an elastic catapult device to launch an elongated pointed spear. The spear typically resides in a track where it is secured by a trigger-based launching mechanism. This mechanism allows one or more elastic bands stretched close to their elastic limit to be looped around the spear so that when the trigger is actuated, the spear is released and catapulted toward a target. Upon being released and catapulted, the spear travels along the track until it leaves the spear gun. A lanyard or tether may be attached to the spear so that it can be easily recovered after being fired by the gun toward a target.

It is important that the metal spear reside in the track and remain in the track while it is being catapulted from the gun so that it can be aimed and catapulted accurately toward a target such as a fish at some distance from the gun. It is also advantageous to be able to easily place the fired spear back into the track with little difficulty to “load” the spear gun. However, with spear guns as long as 56 inches, placing the spear into the track in its proper position along the length of the stock, can be difficult, inconvenient and time-consuming.

It could be highly advantageous if there were a way to assure that the spear remains in the track immediately after activation of the trigger to achieve an accurate path of travel toward the target. It would also be very useful if there were a way to assure that placing a fired spear back into the track was being done quickly, accurately and without difficulty so that it can again be fired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides the aforementioned highly advantageous and useful ways of keeping the catapulted spear in the track as it leaves the gun after release of the catapult bands and facilitates placement of the spear back into the stock track for subsequent firing. This is accomplished by utilizing a powerful permanent magnet that is located in a recess formed just beneath the track in the interior of the wooden stock of a spear gun. The magnetic field of the buried magnet creates a force of attraction which interacts with the metal shank of the spear residing in the track. This force pulls the spear into the bottom or trough of the track where it is symmetrically positioned for accurate catapulting toward a remote target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments, features and advances of the present invention will be understood more completely hereinafter as a result of a detailed description thereof in which reference will be made to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the inventive spear gun loaded with a spear;

FIG. 2 is an upper three-dimensional view of the forward portion of the loaded spear gun of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the forward portion; and

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectioned side view of the forward portion of the loaded spear gun showing the buried magnet beneath the spear track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings, namely, FIGS. 1 through 4, it will be seen that a wooden spear gun 10 of the present invention is shown therein. Spear gun 10 comprises a wooden stock 12 and a handle 14, including a trigger 16 within a trigger guard 18. Beneath the rear end of stock 12 is a tether spool 15 having a tether 17 which is connected to a metal spear 20. One or more highly stretched elastic catapult bands 22 threaded through an aperture 26, provide the force, when released by trigger 16 and a trigger-controlled latch (not shown), to propel the spear 20 toward a target.

Spear 20 rests in an elongated track 25 along the upper surface of stock 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, recess 24 is provided within stock 12 beneath track 25. Within recess 24 there resides a powerful cylindrical shaped magnet 30. A small gap 28 above recess 24 and magnet 30 may preferably be filled with a resin-wood filler to retain the magnet 30 in the recess 24 and preserve the aesthetic appearance of stock 12. In the preferred embodiment, magnet 30 is a Neodymium magnet having a cylindrical shape that is ⅜ inch in diameter and ½ inch in length and polarized at its ends.

It will be understood that other magnets may be used. Moreover, the placement, shape, size and number of magnets may be varied from that shown in the preferred embodiment.

Having thus disclosed an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that variations of that embodiment may now be readily perceived. Accordingly, the scope hereof is to be limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. In a spear gun having a wooden stock with an elongated track for receiving a spear to be catapulted toward a target, the improvement comprising: a magnet located within the stock beneath the track for attracting the spear while it resides in the track.
 2. The improved spear gun recited in claim 1 wherein said magnet is a cylindrical permanent magnet located in a recess in said stock beneath said track.
 3. The improved spear gun recited in claim 2 wherein said recess is filled above said cylindrical permanent magnet to hide said magnet.
 4. The improved spear gun recited in claim 3 wherein said recess is filled with resin-wood filler.
 5. A wooden stock spear gun having a track for receiving a metal spear to be catapulted toward a target, the stock comprising: a source of a magnetic field extending along at least a portion of said track for attracting said spear into said track.
 6. The spear gun recited in claim 5 wherein said magnetic field source is a permanent magnet within said stock.
 7. The spear gun recited in claim 6 wherein said permanent magnet is positioned within a recess in said stock below said track.
 8. The spear gun recited in claim 7 wherein said permanent magnet is hidden from external view within said recess. 